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Cape Breton Island is not isolated. There are road and rail links to mainland Nova Scotia, and air service out of Sydney. There may be other air services, but I've only ever flown in and out of Sydney.
There are supermarkets. Also, gas stations, McDonald's, Tim Hortons, and Wal-Marts, among other amenities of modern living. And rental cars--Cape Breton is a popular summer destination, and tourists often rent cars. I cannot speak to taxes, but I'd guess that they are comparable to other places in Canada.
Thanks. It looks nice and has nice summers.. I have a lot to learn about the area, although my mom spent a lot of time there in the 1940's-1950's.. I don't mind getting away from Trump either for the summers..
Cape Breton Island has a rugged natural beauty by mainland Nova Scotia standards. Cape Breton Highlands National Park is a good place to get away in nature, to hike. Some years ago, however, a singer from Toronto was hiking alone there and was mauled to death by coyotes. Cabot Trail is beautiful. Lake Bras d'Or cuts through the island.
They have cities that offer most amenities (i.e., Sydney, Glace Bay). People do live there and have to shop... even in the smaller communities. It's not the end of the earth...
The island is home to an interesting mix of Anglo-Maritime, Acadian, and residual Gael and Micmac culture, if such things interest you.
There's been a renaissance of sorts in Cape Breton Gaelic culture. St Ann's Gaelic College attracts students from across Canada and the U.S. to study the Gaelic language, music, dancing. Cape Bretoners are collectively proud of their island's Scottish roots (or at least those with Scottish family backgrounds are). Tourist outlets promote the *Scottish*. The island is also home to a Celtic music industry... or, more accurately, musicians who produce and perform Celtic music. Mabou has historically been a center of Celtic music. In the fall each year, they put on a Celtic festival to coincide with foliage change... I think it's called Celtic Colours. They put up bilingual English-Gaelic road signs to promote the local Gaelic heritage. Some study groups formed by adults to learn, practice Gaelic have come together. But the Gaelic *fact* is residual. The island was a thickly Gaelic-speaking place at the turn of the 20th century. Some people want to bring it back and the provincial government supports that to some extent... especially in order to bring in the tourist dollar.
There are a lot of Micmac in Whycocomagh, Eskasoni and other places on the island. Among the Micmac, there has been renewed interest in bringing back their native language as well. My memory of them, however, is that they are poor... but that is just a memory.
You may want to also check out Prince Edward Island (PEI) for a summer place. If you love beaches with no one around, rolling green potatoe fields, fantastic seafood, great folk music, wonderful local folks, etc. We travele to PEI from the Philadelphia area, 2 days of driving, since 1985 and love the place. We were in Sydney NS this summer on our way to Newfoundland and much preferred PEI, we have been to NS several times. NS and PEI are completely different places and worth exploring. You can take a ferry from NS to PEI if you ever get to the area.
Cape Breton Island has a rugged natural beauty by mainland Nova Scotia standards. Cape Breton Highlands National Park is a good place to get away in nature, to hike. Some years ago, however, a singer from Toronto was hiking alone there and was mauled to death by coyotes. Cabot Trail is beautiful. Lake Bras d'Or cuts through the island.
They have cities that offer most amenities (i.e., Sydney, Glace Bay). People do live there and have to shop... even in the smaller communities. It's not the end of the earth...
The island is home to an interesting mix of Anglo-Maritime, Acadian, and residual Gael and Micmac culture, if such things interest you.
There's been a renaissance of sorts in Cape Breton Gaelic culture. St Ann's Gaelic College attracts students from across Canada and the U.S. to study the Gaelic language, music, dancing. Cape Bretoners are collectively proud of their island's Scottish roots (or at least those with Scottish family backgrounds are). Tourist outlets promote the *Scottish*. The island is also home to a Celtic music industry... or, more accurately, musicians who produce and perform Celtic music. Mabou has historically been a center of Celtic music. In the fall each year, they put on a Celtic festival to coincide with foliage change... I think it's called Celtic Colours. They put up bilingual English-Gaelic road signs to promote the local Gaelic heritage. Some study groups formed by adults to learn, practice Gaelic have come together. But the Gaelic *fact* is residual. The island was a thickly Gaelic-speaking place at the turn of the 20th century. Some people want to bring it back and the provincial government supports that to some extent... especially in order to bring in the tourist dollar.
There are a lot of Micmac in Whycocomagh, Eskasoni and other places on the island. Among the Micmac, there has been renewed interest in bringing back their native language as well. My memory of them, however, is that they are poor... but that is just a memory.
I would't single out the Mi'kma'ki. NS was poor the last time I visited with our friends. After the coal mines closed and the overfishing by foreign fleets there's nothing left to do but go on the dole. https://nsadvocate.org/2017/09/18/wh...ty-on-the-map/
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